Valved male luer

ABSTRACT

A male luer connector device that attaches to any standard female luer valve to open a flow channel between the two luers. The male luer is comprised of a tubular housing element, a resilient member contained within the housing and extending within an inner tubular portion defined in the housing, a resilient member that extends within the inner tubular portion of the housing, and a valve member attached to the resilient member that seals the tubular portion. When the male luer is engaged with any standard female luer, a female luer connector device drives the resilient member of the male luer into a compressed position to open the forward end of the male luer and permit liquid flow between the luers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.09/927,109, filed on Aug. 10, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,998, of liketitle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an improved male luer connector device thatattaches to a female luer valve to open a flow channel through the maleluer. Once the engagement of the luers has been established, thesevalves are used to make connections in hospitals for intravenous (IV)devices in order to be used in medical liquid flow applications.

Luer devices are used in particular in a variety of medical applicationswhere there is a desire to interconnect together male and femaleconnector parts onto tubing material that is connected to an IV. Themost common types of IV fluid exchanges use a syringe fitted with anozzle that is designed to be received into a corresponding receiverattached to the IV device. The receiver often has a hollow tubularcannula or post that routes fluid into a line inserted into the IVextending into the patient's veins.

Typical luer connections utilize a male luer connector that is insertedinto a female luer connector. The male luer connector is threaded ontocorresponding threads of the female luer connector to engage the two sothat fluid may be passed between them without escaping or leaking fromthe connection. Because these connections are subject to coming loose ordisengaging, there is always a possibility that fluid being passedwithin these tubes can escape. When using hazardous drugs, such as thoseused for chemotherapy treatments, the possibility of escaping fluids canbe a dangerous problem. Additionally, even if the fluid does not leakwhen the connectors are engaged, once they are disengaged, the residualamount of fluid remaining on the tip of the connectors can still beharmful. While this amount may be less than an amount escaping from theconnectors, it can still be significant enough to cause harm to anyperson exposed.

Therefore, there is a need for a luer connection that securely containsthe fluid materials included therein when luers are engaged to oneanother. There is also a need for a luer connection that seals off themale luer connector in a male-female connection so that users of theconnector are protected from hazardous drugs that remain on the luer tipsurface when disengaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedmale luer connector device for engagement with a female luer valve forconnection to an IV or other fluid-type connections.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a male luer connectordevice is provided for establishing a connection with a correspondingfemale luer valve, which may or may not have a central post, which isexemplified by a core rod or cannula. The male luer connector devicecomprises a housing, an inner chamber, a resilient member, and a valvemember. The housing has an outer tubular portion and an inner tubularportion and first and second necked areas and the valve member has a tipthat seals the forward end of the inner tubular portion. The resilientmember can be elastically displaced and extends within the inner tubularportion of the housing.

The male luer is inserted into a corresponding female luer and the twoare engaged. When the female luer engages with the male luer, a contactmember, which may be a core rod or cannula within the female luer or anend face of a portion of the female luer structure, of the female luerpushes first against the tip of the male luer. The tip then moves andcollapses the valve member at the first necked area. Further engagementcontinues to move the valve member and then collapses the resilientmember at the second necked area. Once the luers are entirely in theengaged position, fluid may flow between the luers and enter or exit thefemale luer via an inlet port. If it is desired, the male luer valvedoes not have to be contained within a housing element. Instead, it maybe self contained or additionally, those skilled in the art willrecognize that the male luer valve can be contained within otherenclosures.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a male luerconnector device is provided that comprises a resilient member, a innerchamber, and a valve member. This embodiment functions identically tothe prior embodiment with the exception that the valve member is eitherintegrally formed with the resilient member or can be abutting theresilient member. The resilient member can be formed of an elastomericmaterial or can be a spring formed of many different materials. Theinner chamber is then sealed off by the integrally formed member. Whenan appropriate female luer valve is engaged with the male luer, theintegrally formed member collapses in order to permit liquid flowbetween the two luers. If desired, this embodiment may alternativelycontain a housing.

Where the female luer contains an internal core rod or cannula, thatserves as the contact member to force back the resilient member in themale luer and open the valve portion of the male luer to permit fluidflow between and through the joined luers. In a different embodiment, amale luer is described that can work with a female luer that does notcontain a cannula or core rod. This luer comprises a housing, a firsttubular member, a resilient member, a valve member, and optionally aslidable sleeve member. The housing has an outer tubular wall and afirst tubular member which extends co-axially within the housing. Thefirst tubular member has at least one axially extending slot and aforward end having a valve seat. The valve member is located at the endof the resilient member for sealing engagement of the valve seat. Theresilient member has at least one guide portion that extends radiallyoutwardly through the axial slot. If there is a sleeve member it isslidably mounted over the first tubular member and the outer tubularwall so that the sleeve traps the guide portion. In other embodimentsthe resilient member is self-guiding along the male luer structure ormay be guided by the axially extending slot. When the female luer isengaged to the male luer, the housing of the female luer engages thesleeve and slides it rearwardly into the male luer housing. This pushesthe resilient member and the valve member rearwardly into a retractedposition to allow liquid flow between the two luers. Once again in thisembodiment, the housing element does not have to be present. Instead,the male luer valve may be self contained or contained within othertypes of enclosures.

The configurations of the present invention described herein areadvantageous for many reasons. When the male luer is mated or disengagedwith an appropriate female luer valve, the male connector seals off toprotect any user from exposure to potentially hazardous fluids. Thevalve contained on the end of the male luer is self-closing so that itensures that minimal amounts of fluid remain on any exposed surface ofthe luer. This advantage helps ensure hazardous drugs, such as thoseused in chemotherapy treatments, do not remain on the luer. Also, bodilyfluids, such as blood, do not remain on the luer in order to minimizeexposure to potentially diseased blood. The valve design allows eithermutual swabbing or one-sided swabbing because there are minimal creviceson the luer and the tip member is substantially flush. Additionally, inone embodiment, the configuration of the male luer provides anotheradvantage in that it creates a vacuum effect on the tip of the luer whenthe male and female luer are disengaged. This vacuum tip feature acts tominimize residual fluid on any surface and therefore minimizes all typesof exposure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood from the followingdetailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like referencenumerals refer to like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the two components of the male to female luerconnection of the luer fitting;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2—2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, with the components partiallyengaged;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, with the components fully engaged;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to a portion of FIG. 2, showing an alternativeintegrated spring member;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, showing an alternative single stagevalve;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing the valve opened;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5, showing a ball type valve;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing an alternative slide actuated valve;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, showing the valve opened;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9, showing an alternative slideactuated valve;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 10, showing an alternative valve foruse with a female luer valve that does not have a cannula or post;

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a male luer valve that does not contain ahousing element;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are views similar to FIG. 11 illustrating a male luerwhich does not contain a sleeve and showing the movement from a closedposition (FIG. 14) to an open position (FIG. 15) for the male luerduring contact with a female luer having no core rod or cannula;

FIGS. 16 and 17 are views similar to FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrating a maleluer having a central sealing member internally of the resilient memberand showing the movement from a closed position (FIG. 16) to an openposition (FIG. 17) for the male luer during contact with a female luerhaving no core rod or cannula;

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 11 illustrating a male luer which hasa peripheral flange incorporated into the resilient member which uponcontact with the contract surface of a female luer (which has no corerod or cannula) is urged backwards causing the resilient member toretract and open;

FIGS. 19, 20 and 21 illustrate appearance and operation of male luerswhich have resilient members with smooth outer contact surfaces whichupon contact with the contract surface of a female luer (which has nocore rod or cannula) provide a sufficiently frictional connection suchthat the resilient member is urged backwards causing it to retract andopen;

FIGS. 22 and 23 are views similar to FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrating a maleluer having a central sealing member internally of the resilient memberwhich has a radially extending portion which protrudes into the wall ofthe resilient member and extends it outward, allowing it to extend intoor through a guide in the housing of the male luer, which guide isengaged by a contact surface of a female luer having no core rod orcannula, such engagement causing the resilient member to retract andopen to permit fluid flow between and through the luers; and

FIGS. 24, 25, 26 and 27 are side elevation views (FIGS. 24 and 26) andend elevation view (FIGS. 25 and 27) of another embodiment of aresilient member of a male luer which has a slightly bulbous tip with aslit opening, which slit is compressed and opened during contact withthe interior surface of a female luer with a generally conical contactrecess.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the two components of the male to female luerconnection of the luer fitting. The fitting is comprised of a male luer10 that is intended to engage with a female luer that has an existingflush top female luer valve. The female luer 24 is not limited to aparticular type but an exemplar luer is illustrated here. The femaleluer illustrated here is one where the valve shuts off. This female luer24 contains a housing element 28 with a cannula or post 26. On the outersurface of the forward end of the housing 28 there are threads 30 thatpermit engagement of the female luer 24 with the male luer 10. In thisembodiment the male luer 10 is comprised of a housing element 12. Theinner wall of the housing 12 contains threads 32 that engage thecomplimentary threads 30 of the female luer connector. Housing 12 has aninner tubular portion 16 of reduced diameter that projects forwardlythat has a first necked area 36 and a second necked area 38 (See FIG.2). The inner tubular portion defines an internal chamber 13 with aforward opening 33 (See FIG. 2). A valve member 18 is biased into anextended position sealing opening 33 by resilient member or spring 14.Spring 14 acts between distal end of chamber 13 and valve member 18. (Asused herein, “distal” is the rearward end of the male luer and“proximal” is the forward end, i.e., the left and right ends in theviews as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.) Valve member 18 includes aresilient portion 20 and a forward tip member 22. FIG. 1 illustrates thetwo luers 10, 24 in the unengaged position. Other types of female luervalves that do not contain a cannula or post. By way of example, U.S.Pat. No. 5,676,346 by Leinsing and U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,816 by Werschmidtillustrate these types of luer valves.

FIGS. 2 to 5 illustrate the male luer 10 and the female luer 24 as theybecome engaged with one another. FIG. 2 illustrates the two luers 10, 24when they are completely unengaged. The cannula or post 26 may have anopening 40 for entrance and exit of fluid between the two luers. Otherduct systems (not shown) are possible and may be used. The cannula orpost 26 is mounted in a chamber within a sleeve 34. This sleeve 34 canbe made of rubber or any other suitable resilient material and serves asa valve member stopper. Sleeve 34 has a forward end opening 35 which issealed shut in the unengaged position of FIG. 2. The male luer has aforward end that has a first necked area 36 and a second necked area 38spaced rearwardly from the first necked area 36. FIG. 3 illustrates themale luer 10 beginning to be inserted into the female luer 24. Once thethreads 30, 32 begin to engage, the forward end 33 of housing 12 pushesthe sleeve 34 back until the opening 35 is forced to open over the endof the cannula 26. The cannula or post 26 then comes into contact withthe tip of valve member 18 and begins to push it rearwardly so that thecannula or post 26 displaces the valve element front section 22. Thismovement begins to separate the seal surface of the first necked area 36from its seat. As the tip member 22 begins to be pushed back, the secondresilient portion 20 is collapsed, compressing the valve element cavity19. This unseals the first necked area 36 and displaces the liquidcontained within the cavity 19. This displaced liquid flows temporarilyinto the female luer valve 24. As this pressure is applied, the valvemember is compressed and pushed further inwardly into chamber 13.

FIG. 4 illustrates the positioning of the luer members when the female24 and male 10 luers have been even further engaged. The cannula or post26 begins to push even more onto the tip member 22 and collapse thefirst resilient member 14 so that the second necked area 38 is unsealed.At this point, more liquid is displaced by the further insertion of thecannula or post into the vacuum section 21 of the male luer as indicatedby the arrows in FIG. 4. The opening 40 on the cannula or post 26permits fluid to pass into and out of the female luer 24. This displacedliquid creates the volume which will be refilled when the action isreversed.

Upon disconnection of the male luer 10 valve from the female luer valve24, the volume of liquid that was displaced during the connection of thetwo valves is restored to the original positions, thus creating arelative vacuum. When the female luer 24 is removed from the male luer10, the main seal created by the second necked area 38 makes contactwith its seat. This isolates the vacuum section 21 from the upstreamliquid. As the cannula or post 26 is withdrawn, cavity 19 is restored asresilient portion 20 resiles to its uncollapsed natural shape. As thisrestoration occurs, liquid is drawn into cavity 19. Because the secondnecked area 38 is closed, this liquid will be drawn from the interfacebetween the male luer 10 and the female luer 24. This effect is enhancedby the volume represented by the cannula or post 26, which must bereplaced as the cannula or post 26 is withdrawn. The relative vacuumcreated will attempt to draw liquid into the vacuum section until theseal surface of the first necked area 36 again contacts its seat.

FIG. 5 illustrates the same type of dual stage valve as above only thatit is formed with the spring 14 integrally connected to the valve member42. The housing 12 contains the inner sleeve 16 and positioned inside ofthe inner sleeve 16 is an inner chamber 13. The function of thisembodiment is the same as the previously described embodiments with theexception that the spring 14 can be comprised of elastomeric or othertypes of material that are integrally connected with the valve member42.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a male luer according to another embodiment ofthe present invention. This apparatus is a single stage luer valve withan integral resilient member. In this embodiment, the male luer has ahousing 12 with threads 32 on the inner wall of the housing forengagement to the complimentary threads on the female luer 30. The innerchamber 13 is sealed by a valve member 42 that is integrally formed withthe resilient member and the tip. This new valve member 42 thereforefunctions as in the previous embodiment except that all members areformed in one piece, rather than including a separate resilient member.This embodiment demonstrates a single stage luer valve in that once thefemale luer engages with the valve member 42, the member 42 moves as asingle piece rather than as several different pieces as described above.FIG. 7 illustrates the luer of FIG. 6 engaged with a female luer 24 andpermitting fluid flow. Once the two luers 10, 24 are engaged, thecannula or post 26 of the female luer 24 collapses the valve member 42and permits fluid flow via the opening 40 in the cannula or post 26 andalso via an opening 44 in the rear end of the valve member 42.

FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. In thisembodiment, the housing 12 of the male luer is similar to the previousembodiments. Additionally, contained within the inner sleeve 16 is aresilient member or spring 14. However, in this embodiment, the valvecontained on the end of the resilient member is shown as a ball 46. Thisball may be made of various types of materials as for example,elastomeric material. Additionally, the forward end opening of chamber13 is exemplified as a part-spherical seat 47 to accommodate for ballvalve 46. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the valvecontained on the end of the resilient member or spring 14 can be of avariety of shapes. However, the shape of the tip of the male luer 10needs to be one that corresponds to the shape of the tip of the femaleluer 24.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a modified connector according to yet anotherembodiment of the present invention, in which a modified male luer isreleaseably securable to the female luer 24 of the previous embodiments.The modified male luer comprises a housing with a cylindrical outer wall52 and an inner tubular support 54 which projects into the cylindricalhousing from rear end 53 and extends along part of the length of thehousing. Outer wall 52 has internal threads 32 for engaging the femaleluer threads 30 and a larger diameter than the inner support 54 whichextends from the rear end 53 of the housing and projects out of theforward end of the housing. A resilient sleeve or bladder member 56 issecured between the tubular member 55 and support 54 at its rear end,and projects forwardly within tubular member 55 to its forward endopening 57. Bladder member 56 has a forward end opening 58 which issealed shut by the inwardly tapered end portion of the tubular member 55when in the extended, unconnected position of FIG. 9. The forward endportion 58 of bladder member 56 acts as a valve to seal the end opening57 of the male luer in the position illustrated in FIG. 9.

Tubular member 55 of the male luer is of smaller diameter than the innercylindrical wall 52 of the housing, to leave an annular gap between themember 55 and inner wall 52. A sliding sleeve 60 is slidably mountedover the tubular member 55 in this annular gap. Sleeve 60 hasdiametrically opposed openings 62, and the tubular member 55 hasopposing elongate, axially extending slots 64. Oppositely directedguided portions 65 (e.g., tabs, wings or fins) on the inner bladder orsleeve member 56 project radially outwardly through the slots 64 andinto the openings 62. Thus, when the sleeve is in the fully extendedposition of FIG. 9, it will pull the sliding sleeve forwardly into theillustrated position. The corrugated portion 66 of bladder member 56acts as a spring to bias the forward end of the bladder member 56 andthe sliding sleeve 60 into the extended position.

FIG. 10 illustrates a female luer 24 connected to male luer 50. As theforward end of the female luer housing is threaded into the cylindricalwall of the male housing, it will engage the forward end 67 of thesliding sleeve 60, urging the sleeve, and thus the bladder member 56,rearwardly and moving the forward end portion of the bladder member outof sealing engagement with the forward end opening of tubular member 55.This permits the forward end opening 58 to spring open, as indicated. Atthe same time, the forward end of tubular member 55 will force thesleeve 34 in the female luer rearwardly so that it passes over the endof cannula 26, which then extends into the open forward end of thetubular member. This allows fluid flow through the two luers, via theinner tubular support, open end 58 of the bladder member 56, and theopenings 40 in the cannula 26. When the luers are disconnected, thecompressed corrugated portion 66 of the bladder member 56 urges theforward end portion to move back into sealing engagement with theforward end of the tubular member 55, preventing any fluid leakage.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9, showing an alternative slideactuated valve except that the resilient sleeve or bladder member 56does not have a corrugated portion and instead has a separate springmember 68. The spring member 68 can any type as for example, those madeof metal or elastomeric material. The function of the male luer valve isthe same, it is merely the spring member 68 that replaces the previouscorrugated member.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 10, showing an alternative valve foruse with a female luer valve that does not have a cannula or post. Theouter surface of the forward end of the housing 28 engages andcompresses the forward end 67 of the sliding sleeve 60 of the male luervalve. As the forward end of the female luer valve housing 28 continuesto further displace the sliding sleeve 60, the bladder member 56,continues to move rearwardly and moves the forward end portion of thebladder member out of sealing engagement with the forward end opening ofthe tubular member 55. This permits the forward end opening 58 to springopen. This allows fluid flow through the two luers, via the innertubular support, open end 58 of the bladder member 56. Once the luersare disconnected, the sealing engagement as previously described onceagain occurs.

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a male luer valve that does not contain ahousing element. This view is similar to FIG. 2 except that the maleluer valve is not contained within a housing element and instead can beself-sustained. However, the function of the male luer valve is the sameas that explained for FIG. 2 only that the engagement with the femaleluer housing does not occur with the male luer housing.

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate an embodiment of a male luer 100 which doesnot contain a sliding sleeve 60. The luer housing 102 has a tubularprojecting conduit 118 over which is positioned resilient sleeve ormember 106. The base 114 of resilient member 106 is butted against theinterior end wall 112 of housing 102 and secured in place by the innerend of tubular projecting member 104. The resilient member 106 has oneor more laterally projecting fins 108 which are disposed respectively inslots 110 in the tubular portion of member 104. When the male luer isclosed (FIG. 14) the opening at the tip 116 of resilient member 106 isclosed, sealing off the open end 120 of the male luer 100. When the maleluer is engaged by a female luer 128 which has a contact surface 126 butno central core rod or cannula (FIG. 15) the surface 126 engages thefins 128 and movement of the male luer into the female luer causes thefins to move backward into housing 102 as indicated by arrow 107 withthe fins 108 guided within the slots 110 as shown at 108′ to compressthe bellows portion of the resilient member as shown at 106′. This opensthe tip as shown at 116′ to allow fluid flow through opening 120 intothe flow channels 124 and 122 of conduit 118 and housing 102respectively. The peripheral projections 132 function as O-ring sealsand when the luers are engaged the projecting front edge 130 of theresilient member 106 engages the inner sloped surface 134 of member 104to provide a sealing or “stopper” effect and keep the O-ring seal areafree of the fluid flow and dry.

For simplicity in a number of the Figures the female luer 128 is notitself shown and only the movement of elements of the male luer 100 areillustrated. It will be understood that such movement is the result ofthe male/female luer engagement in the manner illustrated in otherFigures such as (but not limited to) FIGS. 2, 3, 12 and 15. Similarly,threads or other securing devices to retain the male and female luers intheir engaged positions during flow of fluid through them are also forsimplicity not shown in all Figures, but it will understood that suchare present as illustrated in (but not limited to) FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 10 and12.

FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate an embodiment similar to that of FIGS. 14 and15, but in which there is an internal plug 138 within the conduit 118with channels 148 past the plug 138. These channels can be formed in thewall of conduit 118 or can be formed by having plug 138 mounted onspaced apart supports (not shown) connected to conduit 118, or in anyother convenient manner. The peripheral surface 142 of plug 138 contactsradial land 144 on the inner surface of resilient member 106 as shown at140 when the male luer is closed (FIG. 16). When the male luer entersthe female luer the contact surface 126 contacts the fins 108 and pushesthem backward as shown at 108′ in FIG. 17, thus compressing theresilient member as shown at 106′ and displacing the land 144 fromcontact with the surface 142 of the fixed plug 138. Compression of theresilient member also opens tip 116 of the resilient member as shown at116′. Fluid flow through opening 120 into conduit 124 and around plug138 through channels 148 as shown by arrows 146 is also effected. Theaxial position and width of land 114 can be varied to determine whencontact with the plug edge 142 is made or lost, thus determining whenthe luer opens or closes, and also to provide a vacuum effect to preventor minimize backflow of fluid.

FIGS. 18-21 illustrate embodiments of a “soft” male luer 100 in whichthe engagement with the female luer 128 results in the contact area 126of the female luer being the interior surface of the luer which is incontact directly with the exterior surface 152 of the resilient member106, as illustrated in FIG. 21. In FIG. 18 two optional elements areshown: shoulder 150 and projections 109 which can be fins such as 108, aperipheral flange, protruding structure which can engage the contactsurface of the female luer. The shoulder 150 can be a continuous radialshoulder within the portion 102′ of the housing 102 or it can consist ofspaced-apart projections aligned radially within portion 102′. (Portion102′ is shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 as a member separate but attached tothe rest of housing 102, but it can also be integral with the rest ofhousing 102.) Shoulder 150 serves as a limiting device to engage contactsurface 126 of the female luer 128 and stop the relative movement of thetwo luers, thus limiting the depth to which the male and female luerscan be engaged. Projections 109 can assist the compressions of theresilient member 106 by sharing engagement with the contact surface 126with the surface 152 of the member 106. The tip area 116 of the member106 can be thickened as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 to provide someexpansion into the engaging neck of the female luer and thus create anadditional sealing effect.

In FIGS. 20 and 21 the soft male luer 100 is illustrated as having anoptional extended housing 102, such that engagement of the surface 152of member 106 in contact with surface 126 provides the entire engagementof the male and female luers. That engagement and the compression ofmember 106 over the rigid conduit 118 allows opening of tip 116 and flowthrough end 120.

Additional embodiments are shown in FIGS. 22-27. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 22 and 23, an internal plug 154 similar in function to that ofvalve member 42 is shown. The plug 154 has a integral fins or radialflange 158 which is inserted into a radial pocket 156 in resilientmember 106. Engagement with the female luer causes the female luer'scontact surface to push the resilient member 106, its pocket 156 andfins or flange 158 backward as shown as 106′, 156′ and 158′respectively, thus withdrawing plug head 160 of plug 154 to the positionshown at 160′ thus opening end 120 for flow into conduit 124.

FIGS. 24-27 shown a shaped resilient member 106 a which has a slit 162in its tip 116″. When contacted by the female luer 128, frictionalengagement of the outer surface 152 of the resilient member 106 a withthe contact surface 126 of the female luer causes the resilient member106 a to deform as shown in the Figures, thus opening slit 162 as shownat 162′ to allow fluid flow into conduit 124.

The various embodiments of the male luer described above provide forautomatic sealing of the end opening in the male luer as the male andfemale luers are disconnected, reducing the risk of an operator cominginto contact with the potentially hazardous fluid flowing through theconnector.

Although some exemplary embodiments of the invention have been describedabove by way of example only, it will be understood by those skilled inthe field that modifications may be made to the disclosed embodimentswithout departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined bythe appended claims.

1. A male luer comprising: a tubular conduit having a forward end; aresilient member extending coaxially with the tubular conduit oppositerearward and forward ends; and a valve member at the forward end of theresilient member, the valve member openably sealing the forward end ofthe tubular conduit; such that when the male luer is inserted into afemale luer, contact with the female luer drives the resilient memberinto a compressed position to open the valve member of the male luer andpermit flow from one luer to another, with the liquid transiting themale luer traveling in a generally axial path through the tubularconduit of the male luer to or from the female luer.
 2. The male luer asclaimed in claim 1, further including the tubular conduit having firstnecked area and a second necked area spaced rearwardly from the firstnecked area.
 3. The male luer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the valvemember has a resilient, compressible portion.
 4. The male luer asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the valve member is contoured at said tip tocomplement the first necked area of the inner tubular portion.
 5. Themale luer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the valve member is contouredat a location spaced rearwardly of said tip to complement the secondnecked area of the inner tubular portion so that the valve member issubstantially flush with the forward end of the inner tubular portion ina sealed condition.
 6. The male luer as claimed in clam 3, wherein theresilient member is a spring or is of elastomeric material.
 7. The maleluer as claimed in claim 1, further including a housing having an outertubular portion with a rear end and a forward open end, the tubularconduit and the resilient member being disposed at least partiallywithin the housing.
 8. The male luer as claimed in claim 7, wherein thehousing is generally cylindrical in shape and contains threads on aninternal surface of the outer tubular portion for engaging complementarythreads on the female luer connector.
 9. The male luer as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the resilient member and the valve member are formedintegrally.
 10. The male luer as claimed in claim 9, wherein theresilient member and the valve member are of elastomeric material.
 11. Amale luer for connection with a female luer valve having a contactsurface, the male luer comprising: a housing having a forward end and arearward end; and disposed within the housing: a first tubular memberpositioned within the housing and having a forward end and a rearwardend; a resilient member with forward and rearward ends disposedcoaxially with the first tubular member, the resilient member beingmovable between a compressed, retracted position and an extendedposition; and a valve member disposed at the forward end of theresilient member for openable closure of the male luer during suchmovement; wherein when the male luer is inserted into the female luerthe contact surface of the female luer motivates the resilient memberinto the compressed position to open the forward end of the male luerand permit liquid flow through and between the luers, with the liquidtransiting the male luer traveling in a generally axial path through thetubular conduit of the male luer to or from the female luer.
 12. Themale luer as claimed in claim 11, wherein the housing is generallycylindrical and defines an internal chamber and contains threads on itssurface for engaging complementary threads on the female luer connector.13. The male luer as claimed in claim 11 wherein the resilient member isdisposed internally of the first tubular member with the rearward endsof both in contact with each other and with a portion of the housing,such that the first tubular member secures the rearward end of resilientmember against movement.
 14. The male luer as claimed in claim 13wherein the first tubular member also includes means to guide movementof the resilient member during compression and decompression of thelatter.
 15. The male luer as claimed in claim 11, wherein the firsttubular member is comprised of rigid molded material.
 16. The male lueras claimed in claim 11, wherein the resilient member and the valvemember are formed integrally.
 17. The male luer as claimed in claim 16,wherein the resilient member and the valve member are made ofelastomeric material.
 18. The male luer as claimed in claim 11 whereinthe first tubular member is disposed internally of the resilient memberand acts to guide movement of the resilient member upon compression ordecompression.
 19. The male luer as claimed in claim 11 furthercomprising a second tubular member wherein the resilient member isdisposed internally of the second tubular member with the rearward endsof both in contact with each other and with a portion of the housing,such that the second tubular member secures the rearward end ofresilient member against movement.
 20. The male luer as claimed in claim11 further comprising the resilient member being responsive to itscontact with the contact surface of the female luer during engagementbetween the luers, responsiveness comprising compression of theresilient member effecting opening of the male luer to permit fluid flowbetween and through the luers.
 21. The male luer as claimed in claim 20wherein the contact surface to which the resilient member is responsivecomprises a post within the female luer.
 22. The male luer as claimed inclaim 20 wherein the contact surface to which the resilient member isresponsive comprises a forward face of the female luer.
 23. The maleluer as claimed in claim 20 wherein the contact surface to which theresilient member is responsive comprises an internal surface of thefemale luer.
 24. The male luer as claimed in claim 20 where theresponsiveness further comprises decompression of the resilient memberupon disengagement of the luers thereby effecting closing of the maleluer to prevent fluid flow through the male luer.
 25. The male luer asclaimed in claim 11 wherein the resilient member further comprises acloseable valve at an end thereof, and upon engagement with the femaleluer the resilient member deforms to open the valve and upondisengagement with the female luer deformation of the resilient memberis reversed effecting closure of the valve.
 26. The male luer as claimedin claim 11 further comprising the resilient member having axialmovement within the male luer upon compression or decompression andguide means external of the resilient member of the valve membercooperating with guided means integrated into the resilient member orvalve member for guidance of the axial movement of the resilient member.27. The male luer as claimed in claim 26 further comprising a sleeveslidably mounted over said first tubular member between the firsttubular member and outer tubular wall, the sleeve trapping the guidedmeans.
 28. A male luer as claimed in claim 11 wherein the housingcontains securing means adjacent the forward end for releaseableengagement with the female luer for releaseably securing the luerstogether.
 29. A male luer as claimed in claim 11 wherein the firsttubular member contains securing means adjacent the forward end forreleaseable engagement with the female luer for releaseably securing theluers together.
 30. A male luer as claimed in claim 11 wherein theresilient member contains securing means adjacent the forward end forreleaseable engagement with the female luer for releaseably securing theluers together.
 31. The male luer as claimed in claim 11 furthercomprising the first tubular member extending co-axially within thehousing from the rear end and projecting outwardly beyond the forwardend of the outer tubular wall, the first tubular member having a seconddiameter less than said first diameter and having at least one axiallyextending slot and a forward end having a valve seat.
 32. A male luercomprising: a housing; a resilient member with first and second endsthat can be elastically displaced that is contained within the housing;a tubular member with a forward end and a rearward end contained betweenthe housing at a position located coaxially between the housing and theresilient member wherein the forward end of the tubular member containsa recess that creates a necked area; a valve member abutting theresilient member and sealing the forward end of the tubular member, theresilient member being movable between an extended position in which thevalve member is in sealing engagement with the forward end of thetubular member, and a retracted position in which the valve member isrefracted rearwardly form the forward end; such that when the male lueris inserted into a female luer the female luer drives the resilientmember into a compressed position to open the forward end of the maleluer and permit flow from one luer to another whereby liquid exiting themale luer travels in a generally linear path through the tubular memberof the male luer and enters the female luer.
 33. The male luer asclaimed in claim 32, wherein the housing is generally cylindrical inshape and contains threads on its surface for engaging complimentarythreads on the female luer.
 34. The male luer as claimed in claim 32,wherein the valve member is a plug that seals the tubular member at theforward end.
 35. The male luer as claimed in claim 34, wherein the plugis made of elastomeric material.
 36. The male luer as claimed in claim32, wherein the tubular member and sliding sleeve are of rigid moldedplastic.
 37. The male luer as claimed in claim 32, wherein the resilientmember and valve are of elastomeric material.
 38. The male luer asclaimed in claim 32, wherein the resilient member is a spring.
 39. Themale luer as claimed in claim 32, wherein the resilient member isintegrally connected to the housing.